Jack Wilshere and Andy Carroll look certain to play for England at the European Under-21 Championship after being named in the provisional squad for this summer's tournament.

The head coach, Stuart Pearce, kept his word to select the Arsenal midfielder Wilshere and the Liverpool striker Carroll – both of whom have begun to establish themselves in the senior side – in his initial 40-man party for the finals in Denmark. Pearce said he had spoken to Wilshere and the midfielder had told him he wanted to play.

Pearce ignored opposition from the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, who is against 19-year-old Wilshere's inclusion, while the Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's position on Carroll's selection is unclear.

Pearce said he had yet to speak to Wenger but emphasised that his squad would be whittled down to 23 before the championship and if the 19-year-old remained he would speak to the Arsenal manager at that point. "I will speak to Arsène in respect of that," he said. "I have to make sure my best players are up against the opposition's best players."